Baler



Patentecl Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT Vo F-FlcE BALER Application December 26, 1934, seriaiNo. 759,166

20 Claims.

'Ihe present invention relatesgenerally to hay balers or hay presses .for condensing orvcompacting straw, hay and other fibrous material of considerable bulk into a compact form. Generally such machines comprise suitable feeding mechanism for delivering charges of the material into a press chamber in which a ram or plunger is movable for compressing or compacting the charges of material into a bale, in connection with ysuitable means providing for the deposition of division blocks at more or less regular intervals for the purpose of separating the compressed material into separate bales which while under compression are fastened with suitable bale ties.

In the usual type of l'ay press, the ties are inserted as the bales pass through a bale case, and after the bales are forced from the latter, the division blocks, separating the bales, drop to the ground and are retrieved for subsequent use.

The principal object of the present invention is theprovision of means for catching and retaining the division blocks as they drop from between the completed bales as they are successively discharged from the machine, thereby preventing the division blocks from falling to the ground, and serving to retain them in a position easily accessible for removal when needed again.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a means for a baler of 30l the windrowtype, that is, one which is adapted to be drawn along a windrow or between cocks and to be continually fed material lduring the travel of the machine over the field. Heretofore, so far as I am aware, no means has ever been provided for catching and retaining the division blocks as the bales fall free of the machine at the rear end thereof. They have always been permitted to fall to the ground, and in the case of a windrow baler, it was necessary for the attendant riding the running board of such a machine at the rear end of the ylatter to keep close watch on the division blocks and be ready to retrieve them at the moment each completed bale left themachine. If the operator were not there at 45,y the-moment that the division block dropped, it would be necessary for him to leave the machine, run back and get the block, and then catch up with the machine again. By virtue of the principles of the present invention, a division block 5o retainer is provided which catches the division block as each completed bale falls free of the machine. As a result, it is no longer necessary for the attendant riding the running board of the baler, such as a baler of the windrow typeL to watch the .division block, and he may therefore (Cl. 10G- 19) pavmore attentionlto his other tasks and can pick the division block out of the retainer at the time that it isneeded. l

More specifically, itis an object of the present invention `toprovidea hay baler or press with a 5- tailboard, Yover which the completed bales are ejected, having an openingtherein, and to carry on the tail'board or connecttherewith rthe division block receiving means in such a. position as to catch theblocks as they dropV through the 10 opening-inthe tail board. f

Another object of the presentinventionA is to provide-the tail `boardwith an :inclined ,plate section and to also lincline the division` block receiving means, ina downward and forward 1:5 direction, this beingtheapproximate position of each division block as the-completed bale just Y aheadvtips or tilts oithe rear lLend of the tail board and falls free of the machine. rIliis an.- gular disposition appreciably facilitates `the divi- 2:0 sion block sliding into the retainer and out of the way ofthe nextvsuoceeding bale. In this connection, it is a'further object of the presentinvention to provide shouldered means behind which the division block rests in the block re- 25 tainer so that any Contact between the moving bales and a block` resting in the retainer will not cause the block tov be shifted upwardly into the path of -movement of the `completed bales.

Itfisaa further object of the present invention 3 0 to pivotally connect the division block receiving means to the tail board so that if the front end ofthe machine tilts upwardly or a rise in the ground isV encounteredby the block retainer, it can swing upwardly out of vthe wayv without dam- 35 aging themachine. Usua1ly,'the tail board .of the machine-is similarly pivoted to the rear or discharge end ofthe bale case;

These and othery objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled 40 in thelartafter a consideration of thefollowing detailed description of the preferred-embodiment, illustrated inthe accompanying-drawing.

In the drawing: f

Figure lis aside view o'f the hay press or hay 45 baler embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top view ofthe rearY end ofthe machinelshown in Figure 1; and

Figure A3 is `a lside-view .of the portion ofthe 5,0*

machine shown in Figure 2, together with a showing of two eompletedlbales in dotted lines with a .division block interposed therebetween and showing the position `they take at rthe moment that one of .ethebales tips v01TY the rearend of the inV tail board and just prior to the'moment that the division block drops into the block retaining means.

nism of the baler comprises suitable feeding means 5 including vertical members 6 movable into and out of the press or baling'chamber 1 in which is also movable a plunger or the like by which the material is compacted and which is actuated vby suitable mechanism` including an eccentric gear 3 driven in any desired manner by a drive pulley 9. The hay baler usually includes a block dropper indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I and swingable into aposi-V tion whereby the division block carried thereby is engaged by a block driver II carried by 'the feeding mechanism and forced intoposition so as to divide the compressed charges into bales and during which the bales are forced rearward-y ly ofthe machine through a bale case I2 and out the rear end thereof. Where the machine is a baler of the windrow type, that is, one which is drawn along a windrow in the field, it is usual to provideV a running board I3 upon which an operator can stand and tie thebales and oversee the transfer and placing of theV division blocks.

The .tail board of the machine isindicated in its entirety by thereferencenumeral I5 and comprises two side VinembersgrlA and I1 VHwhich are pivotally connected at I8. and I9 to the lower angle members 2I and 22 forming a part of the lower section of the bale case I2. Adjacent the pivots I8 and I9 lthe'side members I6 and I1 are connected together by means of a plate 25, and at their ends the bars I6 and I1 are connected together by a plate V26 which, as best illustrated in Figures l and 3, is inclined downwardly and forwardly of the machine for a purpose which will appear later. Preferably, although not necessarily, the tail board plates 25 and 26 are secured, as by rivets 28 and 29, to the side bars Vor members I6 and I1. The `space 30 between the plates 25 and 26 forms a division block receiving opening through which the blocks are adapted to drop between the side bars 'I6 and I1. The tail board I5 is normally held in a substantially horizontal position by a pair of chains 32,the lower ends being Yremovably connected to bifurcated brackets 34 and 35, and the upper ends, of chains 32 being connected by Leye-bolts 36 to the transverse angle member 31. Y

The division block receiving means is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 40 and, as best shown in Figure 3, comprises a frame in the form of a plate 42 pivotally connected at Vits rear end to ther forwardedge of the downwardlyand forwardly inclined plate 26.V YThis pivotal connection is preferably formedA byqa rod'43 around Ywhich is bentan extension 44 on the forward edge of the plate 26 and extensions 45 on the rear end of theplate 42, as best shown in Figures 2y and 3.

5I and 52, to prevent the division block fromV sliding out laterally, and the reenforcing lmem-- bers 41 and 48, at their forward ends, are bent upwardly and'carry a transverse plate 53. At

751 the sides of theretaining plate 42, openings or The division block retaining plate 42 is reenforced by two fore and aft extend-V` The upper en'ds of the chains 56 are fixed to aV bracket 51 for this purpose.

In the operation of the machine, the division blocks, indicated by the reference numeral 60,

are inserted from time to time so as to separate p the compressed and compacted material into separate bales, and then the bales are forced Vrearwardly through the bale case I2 and along the tail board I5. When a bale reaches the point where it overbalances over the rear end of the tail board I5, the division block between that bale and the next succeeding bale is freed, the bale and block being shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 to illustrate their position at this moment. The block 66 being freed, it will drop through the opening 36 between the side bars I6 and I1 of the tail board and will be caught by the division blockY retaining means 4U. It will be Vapparent from Figure 3 that at the moment reach division block is released, it occupies a position inclined downwardly and forwardly, in the samegeneral direc'- tion as the inclination of the tail board plate 26 and the plate 42 of the division block receiving..

means 40. This appreciably facilitates the movement of the block into a position on the plate 42 and well out of the way ofthe next succeeding bale. The sections 44 and 45 of the pivot or hinge construction are so varranged that when the division block is in position on theplate 42, they V serve as a shoulderV along the upper edge of the division block retainer for the purpose of .pre-V venting the division block being forced outV of the retainer 40 by contact with the succeeding bale as shown in Figure 3. In leaving the bale case I2, the bale may extend down between the side members I6 and I1 of the tail board I5 and may come in contact with the upper vrear edge of the division block 6U in the retainer. If no means were provided for preventing Vthe division blockr from sliding rearwardly, it might be shifted rearwardly and upwardly into the path of the next succeeding bale. However, the shoulder formed by the lsections 44 and 45 effectively holds the division block against any such displacement.V

vision of a division block retainer cannot operate Y to cause any damage to the rear end of the machine upon accidental contact with the ground.

'While I have shown and described 'above the 'preferred form of the present, invention, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particulargmeans shown and described but that, in fact, widely different'means may beV employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

by Letters Patent is:

' l. The combination with a baler of the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by division blocks and in Y 70 What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure which the bales are successivelyejected from .a bale case, of means carried at the discharge end of said bale case for supporting the bale being ejected substantially until its rear end is free of the bale case, and means carried by said supporting means below the path ofthe bales and between the edge Yof the nsupporting means over which the bales are discharged and the end of the bale case for retaining the division block between said last mentioned bale and the next succeeding one as the discharge of said last men.- tionedbale is completed.

2. The combination with a baler of the type in which the individual bales `are separated inthe formation thereof by division blocks, of a tail board over which the completed bales are ejected, meanssupporting the tail board on the baler for movement with respect to the latter, and means connected with the tail Aboard intermediate the ends of the latter vand movable therewith for receiving the division blocks from between the bales as the latter are successively discharged yover said tail board.

3. The .combination with a baler of the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by division blocks and having a bale case from which the completed bales are discharged, of ,a tail board connected at the discharge end of said bale case and provided with an opening therein, and division .block receiving means carried by said tail board underneath said opening to receive said divisionblocks from between the bales as the latter are successively discharged from the bale case.

4. The combination with a baler of the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by division blocks and including a bale case from which the completed bales are discharged, of a tail board connected at the discharge end of said bale case for supporting the bales during their ejection from the bale case, an opening formed in the central portion of the tail board through which the division blocks from between successive bales may drop, and means arranged in a downward and forwardly inclined position underneath `the opening in said tail board for receiving the division blocks as they drop through said opening.

5. The combination witha baler of the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by divisionblocks and including a bale case from which the completed bales are discharged, of a tail board connected with the bale case at the discharge end thereof and including an opening in the central portion thereof through which the division blocks may drop as the-bales are successively ejected from the machine, and means pivotally connected with said tail board underneath said opening for receiving the division blocks as they drop therethrough.

6. The combination'with a baler of the type in which the individual bales in the formation thereof are separated by division blocks, having a tail board over which the bales slide in leaving the baler, said tail board having an opening therein through whichk the division blocks may drop, a division block retainer for catching said blocks when the latter drop through said opening and comprising a frame pivotally connected at one end adjacent the rear end of said tail board, and means for suspending said* frame in a downwardly andk forwardly inclined position, said pivotal connection permittingl said frame to swing upwardly.

7. The combination with a baler of the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof. by `division .blocks and having a tail boardover which the completed bales pass in leaving the baler, said tail board having an opening through l.which the` division blocks may drop, of a division block retainer carried by said tail board and disposed underneath said opening to receive the blocks as they drop therethrough, and means associated with the block retainer and the tail board to prevent accidental contact of a bale with a. block in said retainer from shifting the block up intothe path of movement of said bales.

8. ,The combinationwith a baler of the type in which the vindividual bales in the formation thereof are separated by division blocks and having a tail board over which the completed bales pass in leaving the baler, said tail board having an opening therein through which the division blocks may drop, of a `division block retainer for catching the blocks when .the latter drop through said opening, `and cooperating means carried by said tail board and said block retainer and forming hinge means connecting the latter with the tail board for suspending the block retainer in a position underneath said opening to receive said blocks, said hinge means forming a shoulder for preventing any displacement of a division block in said retaining means rearwardly by Contact with the next succeeding bale.

9. The combination with .a baler of the type in which the individual baies are separated in the formation thereof bydivision blocks and having a bale case from which the completed bales are discharged, of a tail board connected with the discharge end of said bale case and comprising a pair of frame `bars pivotally connected with the bale case and bale supporting plates secured to said bars, one adjacent the pivot connections of said bars and the other adjacent the outer ends of the latter, there being an open space between said plates through which said division blocks may drop, andadivision block retainer for catching said blocks when thelatter drop through said opening, said retainer being connected at one end with said latter plate.

10. The Ycombination with a baler of the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by division blocks and having a bale case from which the completed bales are discharged, of a tail boardv connected with the discharge end of said bale case and comprising a pair of frame bars pivotally connected with the bale case and bale supporting plates, one connected with said bars vadjacent the pivot connection ofthe latter and the other including a downwardly and forwardly inclined section connected withthe outer ends of said bars, and a division block retainer pivotally connected with said inclined tail board plate and extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom for catching and retaining the division blocks as thelatter drop through said opening during the successive olischarge of bales from the bale case.

l1. The combination with a baler of the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof'by division blocks, of a tail board over which the bales pass in leaving the baler, 'said tail board having an opening in its central portion through which the division blocks may drop and a downwardly and forwardly inclined plate at the outer end of the tail board, a` division `block retainer pivotally connected at one end with said inclined plate for vertical swinging movement and arrangedfor catching said blocks when the latter drop through said opening, means suspending the other end of said retainer from 75 said tail board so that said retainer is disposed.

at about the same angle as said inclined plate,

plate to prevent a division block carried by said retainer from being drawn upwardly out of said retainer.

12. The combination with a baler of the type in which the individual bales in the formation thereof are separated by division blocks and having a tail board over the outer end of which the completed bales tip downwardly in being discharged from the baler, said tail board having an opening therein through which the division blocks may drop as each successive bale is ejected from the machine, of a division block retainer comprising a receptacle carried by said tail board underheath said opening and having a, bottom wall inclined downwardly and forwardly in approximately the same general direction as the position of each division block after the bale being ejected tips over the outer end of the tail board and just prior to the time that the bale falls free from the tail board. 13. The combi-nation with a balerof the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by division blocks, of a tail board pivotally connected with the baler for upward movement with respect thereto and over which the completed bales are ejected, and means pivotally connected with the tail board for up-ward movement with respect thereto and arranged to be disposed below the tail board and the path of movementY of the bales thereover and formed to catch and retain therein the division blocks from between the bales as the latter are successively discharged over said tail board.

14. The combination with a baler of the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by division blocks, of a tail board over which the bales pass in leaving the baler, said tail board having Van opening in its central portion through which the division blocks may drop and a plate at the outer end of the tail board, a division block retainer for catching said blocks when the latter drop through said opening, means pivotally connecting one end of said block retainer to said plate for vertical swinging movement, means supporting the other end of said retainer from said t-ail board, and means forming a shoulder on said plate to prevent a divisionblock carried by said retainer from being drawn upwardly out of said retainer.

l5. The combination with a baler of the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by division blocks, of a tail board over which the bales pass in :leaving the baler, said tail board having an opening in its central portion through which the division blocks may drop and a plate at the outer end of the tail board, a division block retainer for catching said blocks when the latter drop through said opening, said plates and said division block retainer having cooperating marginal portions, end means pivotally connecting said marginal portions together whereby the block retainer is capable of vertical swinging movement with respect to said plate, and means supporting the other end of said retainer on said tail board, the marginal portion of said plate being formed to serve as a shoulder for preventing a division block from being carried upwardly out of said retainer bythe movement of the baler.

16. The combination'with a baler of the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by division blocks and which includes a bale case comprisingupper and lower members, of a tail board pivotallyconne'cted at its inner end to thelower of said bale case members and over which the completed bales are ejected, supporting means connected between the tail board and the upper of said bale case members for holding the tail board in position, a block catcher for receiving the division blocks from between the bales as the latter are successively discharged over saidtail board, means pivotally connecting the outer end of said block catcher with said tail board adjacent the outer end of the latter, and means connecting theinner end ofV said block catcher with saidtail board adjacent the pivot connection of the latter with said'lower bale case members.

17. The combination with a baler of the type having a bale case and in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by division blocks, of va tail bo-ard extending rearwardly from the discharge end of thebale case and over which the completed bales are ejected, a division block retainer disposed in' a position to receive the division blocks from between the bales as the latter are successively discharged K over said tail board, and means connecting said division block retainer with the tail board for supporting the retainer in a position'underneath the latter.

18. The combination with a/baler -ofthe typ having a bale case and in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by division blocks, of a tail board extending rearwardly from the discharge endof said bale case and upon which the completed bales move when ejected, and a division block retainer connected with the tail board and disposed in a position below the l-atter and extending toward its forward end for receiving the division blocks 'from between the bales as the latter are successively discharged over said tail board, said division block' retainer being formed to provide for removingY the blocks therefrom in a direction transversely of said tail board below the path of movement of the bales. y 19. The combination with `a baler of the type in which the individual bales are separated in the formation thereof by division blocks, of a tail board over which the completed bales are ejected, and a division block retainer connected with the tail board and disposed in a position for receiving the division blocks from between the bales which the completed bales are discharged, bale supporting means at the discharge end ofV said bale case and provided with an opening therein, and division block receiving means carried by said bale supporting means underneath said opening to receive said division blocks from between the bales as the latter are successively discharged from the bale case. n Y

FRANK D. JONES. 

